Manually operated serrated lid remover for screw threaded containers



Jan. 7, 1958 J. T. KUBIK ET AL 2,318,754

MANUALLY OPERATED SERRATED LID REMOVER FOR SCREW THREADED CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 17, 1956 FIG. I.

I INVENTORS 35 JOHN KUBIK I STANLEYS.KUBIK ATTORNEY iite MANUALLY OPERATED SERRATED LID RE- MOVER FOR SCREW THREADED CON- TAINERS This invention relates to an opener for screw threaded containers.

It is an object of our invention to provide a simple, inexpensive and adjustable opener for removing the tops from screw threaded containers.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a device of the class described which, in one embodiment thereof, can be easily and inexpensively incorporated into the structure of a conventional can opener of the type now commonly in use.

It is a further object of our invention to provide an opener of the class described which is simple and economical to manufacture and which is simple, rapid and efiicient to use.

In essence, our invention contemplates an opener having a pair of elongated members which are pivotally attached together at one end. Each of the elongated members is provided with a plurality of spaced serrations which are directed toward the other member. The serrations are of such size and are so oriented that they extend radially with respect to the container top being removed. They are thus adapted to fit within and engage the notches which are customarily provided around the periphery of screw threaded container tops. Our device also includes a gripping member which is attached to and extends at an angle from one of the elongated members at a point remote from the pivot point. The gripping member is provided with a plurality of teeth which extend radially with respect to a larger size container tops in order to engage their notches and facilitate their removal from the container.

It is accordingly an object of our invention to provide an opener for screw threaded containers having all of the advantages and benefits of the structure described. Our invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by our invention.

While we have shown in the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of our invention, it should be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change Without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. l is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of our invention, with the direction of movement indicated thereon for removal of two sizes of container tops which are shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the same device in use to tighten a container top which is shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Figs. l-3, with the center portion of one elongated member broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 5-5 of Fig. 1;

2,818,754 Patented Jan. 7, 1958 Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a conventional can opener which has been modified to utilize our invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the same, with some parts broken away.

A preferred embodiment which has been selected to illustrate our invention is shown in Figs. 1-5 of the drawings. It comprises a pair of elongated members, one of which is circular in cross section and which will accordingly be identified as the circular member 10. The other elongated member is fiat in cross section and will accordingly be identified as the flat member 11.

The circular member 10 is provided at one end thereof with a curved portion 12 which extends at substantial- 1y a right angle with respect to the circular member 10. The end of the circular member 10 adjacent the curved portion 12 is pivotally attached to the end of the flat member 11 by a pivot pin 13.

The flat member 11 is provided with an opener portion 14 and a handle portion 15, which are separated from each other by a right angular twist adjacent the midportion of the flat member 11, so that the handle portion 15 extends in a plane at a right angle to the opener portion 14.

The circular member 10 is provided with a plurality of spaced serrations 16 which start adjacent the pivot pin 13 and extend around the curved portion 12 and a substantial distance along the length of the circular member 10. The serrations 16 stop short of the opposite end of the circular member 10 to provide a smooth handle I portion 17.

The opener portion 14 of the flat member 11 is provided adjacent the pivot pin 13 with a first curved row of serrations 18 and a second slightly less curved but longer row of serrations 19, which rows are separated by a smooth portion or land.

Mounted on the handle portion 15 of the fiat member 11 is a gripping member 20 having a flat base 21 which extends parallel to the handle portion 15 and which is attached thereto by a pair of rivets 22. The gripping member 20 has a gripping portion 23 which is integral with the base 21 and which extends outwardly from the fiat member 11 at an acute angle toward the circular member 10. The gripping portion 23 is provided with a plurality of spaced teeth 24.

In use, the elongated members 10 and 11 are adapted to be pivoted with respect to each other so that they fit around the container top to be removed. If the container top is small, it will fit within the row 18 or 19. The serrations of one of these rows grip the notches on one side of the container top while the serrations 16 on the circular member 19 engage the notches on the opposite side of the container top. The serrations all extend substantially radially with respect to the container top at the point where they engage the container top. The elongated members 10 and 11 are then rotated simultaneously in the direction indicated in Fig. l of the drawings to effeet the removal of the container top.

In the case of larger container tops, the gripping member 20 is utilized, its teeth 24 extending radially with respect to the container top and engaging the notches on one side thereof, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings.

If our device is to be used to tighten rather than loosen a container top, it is preferably turned upside down to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings and the elongated members 10 and 11 moved in the direction there indicated.

In another embodiment of our invention which is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, our opener for screwthreaded containers isincorporated into the structure of an existing and conventional type of can opener. Such an opener comprises an elongated circular member 30 and flat member 31', whichare pivotally attached at one end by'a pivot pin '32. A can opener mechanism operated by a handle 33 is carried adjacent the pivot pin 32. The portion of the Hat member 31 adjacent the pivot pin 32 has been inddified to provide it with a curved row of'serrations '34 which are directed toward the circular mernber 39.

A gripping member '35 is mounted on the handle portion of the flat member 31 by a pair of rivets 36 which extend through a fiat base 37. A gripping portion 38 is formed integrally with the base 37 and extends at an acute angle from the flat member 31 toward the circular member '30. The 'grippingmember 38 is provided with a plurality of spaced teeth 39.

The-portion of the circular member 30 adjacent the pivot pin -32-is provided on one-side thereof with a plurality of spaced serrations 40 which are directed toward the flat memberfil.

The method of operation and use of this embodiment of our invention are the same as previously described above.

We claim:

1. An opener for screw threaded containers comprising a pair of elongated members pivotally attached together at one end thereof, oneof said members being substantially circular in cross section, the other of said members being substantially flat, said circular member having a substantially right angular curved portion adjacent the pivotal end thereof, said curved portion spacing the remainder of said circular member from said fiat member, said circular member having a row of serrations disposed along the surface thereof directed toward said fiat member, said serrations extending along part of said curved portion and continuously a substantial distance along said circular member, the free end of said circular member being free of serrations to provide a handle portion, thepivotal endof said flat member having a short curved row of serrations extending from said pivot along saidflat memberand a longer curved row of serrations spaced from said short row by a land, said serrations being directed toward said circular member, said flat member having a right angular twist disposed adjacent the midportion thereof adjacent the end of said longer row of serrations, the free end of said flat member providing a handle portion, a gripping member comprising a fiat base extending substantially parallel to the handle portion of said flat member, means securing said base to said flat member, a gripping portion formed integrally with said base, said gripping portion extending at an acute angle with respect to said base and being directed toward said circular member, said gripping portion having a plurality of spaced teeth, said gripping member being disposed along said flat member at a position substantially aligned with the end of the row of serrations on said circular member, said elongated members adapted to be manually pivotally moved toward and away from each other, the teeth and serrations on said circular member, fiat member and gripping member being adapted to extend substantially radiallywith respect to a container top held between said members so that said serrations and teeth engageand cooperate with the notches in the edge of saidcontainer top to effect the removal or tightening of said container top upon simultaneous rotav tion of said members.

2. An opener for screw threaded containers comprising a pair of elongated members pivotally attached together at one end thereof, one of said members being substantiallycircular in cross section, the other of said members being substantially flat, said circularmember having a row of serrations disposed along the side thereof directed toward said fiat'member, said serrations extending a substantial distance along said circular member, the free end of said circular member providing a handle portion, the pivotal end of said flat member having a short curved row of serrations extending from said pivot along said fiat member and a longer curved row of serrations spaced from said short row by a land, said serrations being directed toward said circular member, said fiat member having a right angular twist disposed adjacent the midportion thereof adjacent the end of said longer-row of serrations, the free end of said flat member providing a handle portion, a gripping member comprising a base secured to the handle portion of said flat member, said gripping member having'a gripping portion extending at an acute angle with respect to said handle portion and being directed toward said circular member, said gripping portion having a plurality of spaced teeth, said elongated members adapted to be manuallyzpivotally moved toward and away from each other, the

teeth and serrations on said circular member, flat mem-' ber and gripping member being adapted to extend substantially radially with respect to a container top held between said members so that said serrations and teeth engage and cooperate with the notches in the edgeof said container top to'efiect the removal or tighteningof said container top upon simultaneous rotation of said members.

3. An openerforscrew threaded containers comprising a pair of elongated members pivotally attached together at one end thereof, one of said members being substantiallycircular in cross section, the other of said members "being substantially flat, said circular member having a directed toward said circular member, said flat member having a right angular twist disposed adjacent the midportion thereofadjacent the end ofsaid serrations, the free end of said flat-member providing a handle portion, a gripping member comprising a base secured to the handleportionofsaidfiat member, said gripping m'emher having a gripping portion extending at an acute angle with respect to said handle .portion and being directed toward said circular member, said gripping portion having a plurality of spaced teeth,'said elongated members adapted to be manually pivotally moved toward and away from each other, the teeth and serrations on said circular member, fiat member andv grippingmember being adapted to extend substantially radially with respect to a containertop'held between said members so that said serrations and teeth engage and cooperate'with the notchesin theedge'of said container top to effect the removal or tightening ofsaid container top upon simultaneous rotation of said members.

4. Anopener for-screw threaded containers comprismembers being substantially fiat in cross-section, said circular member having a row of serrations disposed alongthe side thereof directed toward said flat member, the free end of said circular member providing a handle portion, the pivotal end of said flat member having a plurality of serrations directed toward said circular member, the free end of said flat member providing a handle portion, a gripping member comprising a base secured to the handle portion of said fiatmember, said gripping member having a gripping portion extending at'an acute angle with respect to'said handletportion andbeing directed toward said circular member, said gripping portion having a plurality of spaced teeth, said elongated members adapted to be manually pivotally moved to- References Cited in the file of this patent ward and away from each other, the teeth and serrations UNITED STATES PATENTS on said circular member, flat member and gripping member being adapted to extend substantially radially with 2024'800 Martens 1935 respect to a container top held between said members 5 2,554,420 Okey ""7 May 19561 so that said serrations and teeth engage and cooperate 2,729,125 Krzanowskl 195 with the notches in the edge of said container top to ef- FOREIGN PATENTS feet the removal or tightening of said container top Great Britain 10, 1946 upon simultaneous rotation of said members. 

